Positive Things About Videogames

[Jonathan1977]

As this is my first Thread I figured I would go for a subject that hits me kinda hard as a Christian Gamer. On the news all the time we hear about the evils of videogames when it comes to shootings and other various things, but I got to wondering...what are some of the positive things videogames do? I want to hear from as many people as possible about your positive experiences with videogames or how they have positively affected you. I will go first with a few.

1) Due to years of playing videogames my hand-eye coordination is quite good. So is my ability to tell small differences in things that should not belong.
2) Videogames have offered me fuel for my already large imagination by providing things I would never have thought about before. Some examples are mythical creatures, spaceships, and tons of other things as well.
3) Some videogames have storylines that are as good or better than many books or movies out there. Wanting to know what comes next or even being able to say what comes next yourself is something that movies and most books don't give you the option of.
4) As an introvert that rarely leaves my house and has few friends some videogames have allowed me to meet up with people that are like minded that I never would have before. To get to know these same people doing activites or just goofing off.
5) I have a love of music and many videogames have music tracks that you will never hear the like of. In fact many of the more famous ones even have their own CDs for music, and they are rather amazing.
6) The last one that I will mention is probably the biggest for me. Videogames allow me to be what I would never be able to be in my real life. Knights, heroes, adventurers, world savers, and many more things.

Well I look forward to seeing where folks take this thread. Let's have some good fun with this.

 

[Lynx]

*Lynx thinks about a support group he heard of, "Everquest Widows"... then shakes his head rapidly and reminds himself that this thread is supposed to be about POSITIVE things.


Video games are partially responsible for the development of my ability to analyze a problem and find a solution. I could just fly in and blast that enemy space station... but I would lose less armor if I stood off at max range and used a howitzer to pick off its defenders from a distance, then ran like crazy to the nearest friendly station when they started coming after me.


Anyone who has ever played Shadow Madness knows that some video games are hilarious. I can't say this is something positive, something that has helped me... but some games have amused me more than others.


I have to agree about the soundtrack. Here's one of my favorites from Gungirl 2, a freeware zombie shooter.
Gun Girl 2 - Full Soundtrack [HQ] - YouTube
Fast forward to "Anomaly" or "Phantasmagoria." The best part of both of those tracks is about 35 seconds in.
Tiny Tank, a Playstation game, had some neat soundtracks too, and much more laid back than Gungirl 2.
Tiny Tank: Up your arsenal - SNOW08 - YouTube

 

[maxwel]

Positive things about Video Games?

Well...
I have noticed that if I shoot a bunch of people and it's only a video game -
I never have to hop a fishing trawler to Siberia to evade Interpol.


That's a positive thing right?
Right?

 

[SpiritHealth]

I think many people give video games a bad rap because some of them appear violent. Also, we read news stories about shooters who had played violent video games. Sure, some video games are on the violent side with some pretty rough language, but we have to choose wisely. And we should not group all video games together and say that they are all violent.

I have had some great times with some really cool video games that taxed my reasoning power and knowledge. I am now a PC gamer and don't own a console, but I still have fun with online games and have made some tremendous friends.

Great thread and i'm looking forward to seeing more comments.

 

[Lynx]

Oh yeah, I forgot about math! Let's see, the Tev9 blaster fires 3 times per second, at 21 hit points per shot... but the Shuriken fires 13 times per second at 7 hit points per shot. Hmm, which does the most damage over time?

 

[Lynx]

There's also economy! I could buy that mega-weapon now and install it, but powering it would drain my fuel and I wouldn't have any cash to buy more fuel because I blew it all on the mega-weapon. Ever get stranded in space, out of fuel? You can't just stick out your thumb and bum a ride to the nearest space station.

 

[seoulsearch]

Just had to pop in and say... Video games also supply people with jobs, seeing as my brother is one of the game designers for the Halo series.

I know there are differing opinions of any game, but for him, it's provided an employment opportunity that he throws himself into wholeheartedly and really enjoys.

 

[Shouryu]

Good to see you on the forums, Jono. ^_^

3) Some videogames have storylines that are as good or better than many books or movies out there. Wanting to know what comes next or even being able to say what comes next yourself is something that movies and most books don't give you the option of.

This. So much this.

 

[Kaycie]

I agree. Video games have helped me build confidence, set short term goals, strategise, and relieve stress. But I think it is wrong to play inappropriate games, or play for inappropriate amounts of time. The average age of a video gamer is 35.

 

[Jonathan1977]

One of my favorite videogames of all time Shouryu.

Good to see you on the forums, Jono. ^_^



This. So much this.

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[christian74]

I remember, in my mid 20's, being asked to help out with youth group retreat when they were running short with teachers while I was serving in children's ministry back then. I was assigned to senior high school boys and was little concern if I was up to the task as I knew none of them and I was also serving the 2nd graders at the time. Then, to my amazement, the topic of video game came up and we got so connected as I was heavily into video games back then - I was like this cool old bro who owns tons of video games and was also very knowledgeable at it (one of my dreams was to work for the video game company as music composer - and did work for one eventually for different position).

What I realized afterward was that playing video game can be a great way to connect and spend time with your kids - instead of just asking how was school or did you finish your homework at the dinner table, you can chat while playing together, spending time with them, and just simply do something together that both of you enjoy.

 

[BananaPie]

Wow! Totally oblivious about video games, but I did enjoy Pac-Mac.
...okay, so this is not the "You know your getting old" thread.

Just recently, however, I became interested in Pearl's Peril app for iPad. I'm on chapter 15.

 

[Nautilus]

Good to see you on the forums, Jono. ^_^



This. So much this.

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I know its the snes chrono game, but ive never played it. I may need to remedy that.

 

[gypsygirl]

while i do not have anything positive to say about video games *snicker* i do like seeing you interacting on the forums and support that wholeheartedly. : D

 

[DanielTate]

I noticed alot of girls are getting into their games nowadays...

 

[DanielTate]

your life is over once the female beats you on the video game... noooooooooooooo!!!! jokes

 

[Lynx]

Video games also teach about consequences for your actions. Let's see, I could blow up this station and loot it for supplies... but I'd get arrested at the next station. And every other friendly ship between here and there would probably shoot at me if I came close. And if the station I blow up is an armor or weapon dealer, there's a corporate enforcer ship that comes out to blow me up.

 

[seoulsearch]

I have to admit (this probably isn't exactly positive, but) that I used to love watching players achieve the most complicated "Fatality Moves" for Mortal Kombat... back in the day.

 

[tourist]

I have to admit (this probably isn't exactly positive, but) that I used to love watching players achieve the most complicated "Fatality Moves" for Mortal Kombat... back in the day.

The only video game that I understand and know how to play is Pong...back in the day.

 

[Wormwood]

3) Some videogames have storylines that are as good or better than many books or movies out there.
5) I have a love of music and many videogames have music tracks that you will never hear the like of. In fact many of the more famous ones even have their own CDs for music, and they are rather amazing.

These I'm with you on 110%. Star Ocean, Final Fantasy, Chrono, Castlevania, Xenosaga, Phantasy Star (IV), Mario (especially Super Mario RPG, World, and Galaxy), Zelda (especially ALttP and TP), Metal Gear Solid (especially Subsistence), and so many others; I have such fond memories with these games.

This was an interesting study in favor of video games (for once): Portal 2 Improves Cognitive Skills More Than Lumosity Does, Study Finds | Popular Science